Recent content by MParr

I owned two Toro mowers with the same engine. That particular engine has a two barrel carburetor and has a paper air filter and foam pre-filter. It’s very important to keep that foam pre-filter clean. I would blow out the foam pre-filter after every mowing. Both should be changed yearly or at...

Yes, the Yanmar engine is very good. However, I don’t think that the OP is looking for a compact tractor or commercial zero turn. I also agree that a 48” lawn tractor or zero turn would be better for two acres. That puts him on a John Deere with a Kawasaki V-Twin.

My sister inherited my dad’s John Deere D100 with a 17.5 B&S engine. It’s at least 20 years old and still running. The deck has been replaced once. If maintained properly, it should give good service. Better grade? They are residential engines.

I believe that Briggs and Stratton makes the single cylinder engines for the 100 Series. Kawasaki makes the V-Twins.

You aren’t getting a Yanmar Diesel engine in a residential riding mower.

Yep, a tree stump can mess up a mower big time.

There’s a good chance that you have more damage than that.

There’s your problem. I don’t know if that would be covered under warranty. Besides, you should have contacted your Bad Boy dealer about the warranty.

Why do you engage the blades at “low speed”? It sounds as if the belt is glazed. Check all of your pulleys, idlers, and spindles. The belt may be on the wrong side of a keeper.

A lot has to do with the brand of mower, the design of the deck, the blades installed, and how the deck is set up. You can get good stripes without using rollers or flaps attached to the rear of your mower. The trial and error method works well.

Just a reminder. The WIX/NAPA Gold oil filters will not work. Their base plates make contact with the oil filter mounting flange before the gasket can fully compress. This leads to an oil leak and possible engine damage. The Predator (Loncin) engine manual states use only the STP or FRAM filters...

What are you trying to cut? Brush? Unimproved land? From my experience, the cutting height settings rarely match actual cutting height. It doesn’t matter where the mower was purchased. Residential mowers will have anywhere from two to four adjustment points. Two adjustment points are common on...

FRAM TG4967 STP S4967

You need to calculate your slope angle. In general, a lawn tractor is going to be better on slopes. The Kawasaki FR651V powers the X350. The engine manual states that it is designed for continuous operation at 25 degrees. The John Deere X350 owners manual says 15 degrees is maximum for safety.

I run 40:1 in all of my stuff too. I don’t see any reason to keep two mixes on hand.

That’s all fine and well for a residential owner. A commercial owner doesn’t have time to clean the deck after each customer.

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Read your owners manual. Transport position is for moving the unit while not under power. Do not operate the mower with the hydros in transport position. I would suggest polishing your mowing technique.

Just to add to my earlier post. My mower is Gravely Pro Turn 260. It has the X-Factor 2 deck and is powered by a Kohler ZT740. Yesterday, I mowed my three acres. When I started, there was still dew on the ground. The dew was gone before I finished. There were no clumps left on the lawn. There...

Were you having this problem before installing the new steering shocks? New steering shocks can be a little stiff and sometimes you don’t realize that you are giving a little more input. This can cause you to push a little harder. Then you over correct with the other lever. Sort of a zig zag effect.

I was referring to the older models. Look at @GearHead36 reply above mine. It reads as though he has the older model PAS.

I guess that it’s possible. However, it’s unlikely. Is your machine under warranty? If so, have it seen about.

With Echo, their Red Armor grease tubes will screw into the fill port of your machine. Also, you can take the plug down to NAPA and match the threads to a grease fitting. On the string trimmer head, you may have to remove the debris shield to fit the tube.

Manufacturers would rather sell a new gear box. I imagine that many residential customers would care one way or the other. I believe that @GearHead36 is referring to #2 in the second photo of @StarTech parts drawings.

A well designed deck. A deck that gives a good cut and discharges grass well. A deck that is simple to level. A deck that is has easy access to the belts.

That’s how I do my edger and string trimmer.

Check with your local John Deere dealers for the battery.

Have you thought about filling them with foam?

I for one am not thrilled with the so-called smart key pad starting systems. There is a need for some sort of monitoring system for the EFI engines. For the carbureted engines, the key is all that’s needed. Keep regularly scheduled maintenance as simple as possible for the end user.

Those 65 degree Yamaha V-Twins on Gravely were a nightmare to change plugs. Possibly the worst engine ever made.

Easy access to the rear of the engine. It’s a pain in the rear to remove the rear end of the mower just to adjust the carburetor or adjust the valves.

I hate Gator style blades. I don’t have the time to clean my deck after every 1/2 acre. I don’t have time to go over areas where big clumps havefallen from under the deck. That’s a big no to extra high lift blades. Gator G6 blades my a mess on my Gravely. The OEM blades do a fair job. However...

I replied before I saw yours. Try leveling the deck properly. You want it level from side to side and 1/8” to 1/4” higher in the rear. Use OEM or equivalent high lift blades. Rotary #11856.

You missed a couple. Deck leveled properly. Use high lift blades. Gator style blades will make a mess.

You’ve got to be kidding.

The newer Ferris Z3X uses Hydro-Gear ZT4400 transaxles. If that’s what your particular mower is equipped with then, you can use synthetic or conventional 20W50 or 15W50 synthetic. 177 to 120 ounces per side. https://www.hydro-gear.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BLN-0081_4400_P6.pdf

Look at the photo that you put up. There definitely needs to be a bead put on where the two curved baffles meet. Your other problem is those Gator style blades. They aren’t good for anything but fall leaves.

That 3/8” higher in the rear doesn’t apply to all brands. For the OP’s Gravely, all blades are to be 20.5” in length, 2.5”wide, 0.25” thick, and have a 5/8” center hole.

I doubt that was the case. It can be made to cut better. However, a zero turn isn’t going to cut that stuff like a tractor pulled Bush Hog.